|
The statement that historians can alter history is
true to some extent. While events in the past have
already occurred and cannot be changed, historians
have the power to give these events new
interpretations and shed new light on them.
Historians may look upon past events in history from
different angles based on their convictions. Thus,
the way one historian writes history can be
different from another. This is evident in the
example of the Black Hole of Calcutta, which was
only a myth that was used to blame the Nawab of
Bengal for the event. Similarly, the Sepoy Mutiny
has been viewed differently by British and Indian
historians, with the latter considering it as the
first struggle for Independence.
Even in current times, historians are capable of
changing the meaning of events, such as when a
country attacks another to liberate it from a
conqueror. While it may be seen as a liberation to
one, it could be viewed as a rape by another.
Another aspect of history is that it was once seen
only as a chronicle of events, dates, and
personalities. However, a new school of historians,
led by Professor Toynbee, views history as a mass
social movement in which events are merely
milestones.
In conclusion, while historians cannot change the
events of the past, they do have the power to give
them new interpretations and alter their meanings.
This emphasizes the importance of critical thinking
and multiple perspectives when studying history.
|
